Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball Method (But Make It Your Overwhelming Yarn Stash)

Walk into your craft space right now and count how many skeins of yarn you own that you have absolutely no plan for.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

If you're like me six months ago, that number is somewhere between "I honestly have no idea" and "Please don't make me face this reality." You bought that gorgeous variegated cotton because it was on sale. You grabbed those clearance acrylics because they might be perfect for "something someday." You have three project bags of yarn purchased for specific patterns you never started.

And now you're drowning in good intentions wrapped in beautiful fiber, feeling guilty every time you want to buy yarn for a project you'd actually make.

Sound familiar? Here's what changed everything for me: Dave Ramsey's debt snowball method doesn't just work for credit cards. It's revolutionary for yarn stash overwhelm.

The Craft Closet of Shame

This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you buy through my links—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things I truly use, love, or think will help fellow makers.

Three months ago, I did something terrifying: I pulled every single skein of yarn out of my craft closet and counted it.

Eighty-seven skeins. EIGHTY-SEVEN.

That's not counting the bags of yarn I'd forgotten about in the basement, or the "just in case" stash in my bedroom closet, or the yarn I'd stashed at my mom's house because I ran out of storage space.

But here's what made it worse - when I really looked at what I had, I realized:

• 40% was clearance yarn I bought "just because it was cheap"

• 30% was for projects I'd planned but never started

• 20% was duplicate colors I'd forgotten I already owned

• Only 10% was yarn I actually loved and had specific plans for

I was spending money I didn't have on yarn I didn't need for projects I'd never make, while telling myself I couldn't afford the good stuff for patterns I actually wanted to try.

Dave Ramsey's Revolutionary Approach to Debt

In "The Total Money Makeover," Ramsey tackles financial overwhelm with a psychological insight that changed millions of lives: when you're drowning in debt, mathematical optimization doesn't work. Emotional momentum does.

Instead of paying off debts by interest rate (which makes logical sense), Ramsey's debt snowball method says pay minimums on everything and attack the smallest debt first. When you eliminate that small debt completely, you get an emotional win that motivates you to tackle the next one.

Here's why this works for yarn stash too:

The Psychology of Overwhelm

When you have too much of anything - debt, yarn, unfinished projects - your brain shuts down. Instead of taking action, you avoid the problem entirely.

The Power of Quick Wins

Small victories create momentum. Every complete elimination feels like progress and motivates continued action.

The Compound Effect

As you clear small amounts, you free up mental and physical space to tackle bigger challenges.

The Stash Snowball Method: Dave Ramsey Meets Fiber Arts

Here's how to adapt Ramsey's debt snowball for yarn stash overwhelm:

Step 1: The Honest Inventory

Just like Ramsey makes people list every debt, you need to face your full stash reality.

Pull out ALL your yarn. Every skein, every partial ball, every forgotten bag. Sort it into categories:

• Active projects (you're currently working on these)

• Planned projects (you have specific patterns picked out)

• Someday projects (vague ideas, no concrete plans)

• No idea (you have no clue what you bought this for)

Step 2: The Snowball Order

Instead of tackling the biggest pile first (like you might logically think), start with the smallest category that you can eliminate completely.

For most people, this order works:

1. No idea yarn (smallest pile, easiest decisions)

2. Someday projects (vague plans are easier to release)

3. Planned projects (evaluate honestly which you'll actually make)

4. Active projects (only after you've built momentum)

Step 3: The Elimination Methods

For each category, you have three options (just like Ramsey's debt strategies):

Destash (sell, donate, or gift) Use it up (commit to specific projects) Keep with purpose (genuine love + concrete plan)

Step 4: The Momentum Building

Every time you completely clear a category or eliminate a certain number of skeins, celebrate. Take photos of your progress. Feel the relief of having less to manage.

Real-World Application: The Stash Snowball in Action

Let me show you how this worked for my friend Jessica (shared with permission):

Her Starting Point: 156 skeins across multiple storage areas, feeling guilty about buying more yarn while having so much unused.

Month 1: Tackled "No Idea" yarn (23 skeins)

• Donated 15 skeins to local school

• Gifted 8 skeins to crafty friends

• Result: One entire storage bin emptied

Month 2: Addressed "Someday Projects" (45 skeins)

• Honestly admitted she'd never make those 12 baby blankets

• Released yarn for projects that no longer interested her

• Kept only yarn for projects that still excited her

• Result: Two more bins cleared, down to 67 total skeins

Month 3: Evaluated "Planned Projects" (31 skeins)

• Committed to specific timelines for 3 favorite projects

• Released yarn for patterns that felt overwhelming

• Bought one new pattern she was genuinely excited about

• Result: Clear project queue, 43 skeins remaining

Month 4: Organized "Active Projects" (43 skeins)

• Created project bags for each active WIP

• Implemented the "one in, one out" rule

• Started actually finishing projects instead of starting new ones

Result: From 156 skeins of overwhelm to 43 skeins with purpose. She started buying yarn again, but only for specific projects she was excited to make.

The Neurodivergent Angle: Why This Method Works for ADHD Brains

If you have ADHD, traditional organization advice often fails because it doesn't account for how your brain actually works. Ramsey's approach succeeds because:

It Uses Dopamine, Not Discipline

Every elimination gives you a hit of accomplishment. ADHD brains need these regular rewards to stay motivated.

It Reduces Decision Fatigue

Instead of evaluating every skein individually, you work in categories with clear criteria.

It Eliminates Shame Spirals

Progress becomes visible and measurable. You see improvement instead of just focusing on what's left.

It Works with Hyperfocus

When you get in the zone for decluttering, you can make significant progress in one session.

Your 30-Day Stash Snowball Challenge

Week 1: The Reality Check

Pull out all your yarn. Count it. Sort it. Take photos. No judgment, just data.

Week 2: Attack the "No Idea" Category

Be ruthless. If you can't remember buying it or why you wanted it, it goes. Aim to eliminate this entire category.

Week 3: Tackle "Someday Projects"

For each skein, ask: "Will I realistically make this in the next year?" If not, release it. Someone else will love it more.

Week 4: Evaluate "Planned Projects"

Keep only projects you're genuinely excited about. If thinking about the project feels like obligation instead of anticipation, let it go.

The Math That Will Motivate You

Here's what the Stash Snowball typically achieves:

• 30-50% reduction in yarn inventory

• 80% reduction in stash-related guilt

• Clear space for projects you actually want to make

• Permission to buy yarn for specific projects without shame

• Better use of the yarn you keep

Ramsey calls this "gazelle intensity" - focused, motivated action that creates real change fast.

Beyond Decluttering: The Maintenance System

Once you've snowballed your stash, implement these Ramsey-inspired maintenance rules:

The "One In, One Out" Rule

Every new skein requires using or releasing an existing one.

The "Envelope System" for Yarn

Set a specific budget for yarn purchases and stick to it. When it's gone, you're done for the month.

The "Emergency Fund" Approach

Keep one bin of versatile, basic yarn for spontaneous projects. Everything else must have a specific purpose.

Regular "Stash Meetings"

Monthly reviews to prevent re-accumulation. Like Ramsey's budget meetings, but for fiber.

The Freedom on the Other Side

Ramsey promises that debt elimination leads to financial peace. The Stash Snowball leads to creative peace:

• No more guilt about buying yarn for projects you're excited about

• Clear space both physically and mentally

• Intentional purchasing based on genuine plans, not impulse

• Finished projects instead of perpetual potential

• Joy in your craft space instead of overwhelm

Your yarn should spark creativity, not anxiety. Your craft space should inspire you, not shame you.

Ready to Tackle Your Yarn Management?

Dave Ramsey's "The Total Money Makeover" will transform how you think about not just debt, but any area of life where you have "too much stuff" creating overwhelm instead of options.

His psychological insights into why logical approaches fail and emotional approaches succeed apply whether you're tackling credit cards or craft supplies.

Get your copy of The Total Money Makeover here!

The book also includes budgeting strategies that work brilliantly for yarn purchases - treating your craft budget like any other expense category with clear limits and accountability.

Your Next Stash Snowball Step

Right now, go to your craft space and pull out just the yarn you have "no idea" why you bought. Put it in one pile.

That's your first snowball target. Every skein you eliminate from that pile is progress toward creative freedom.

Your future self - the one with a curated stash of yarn you actually love - is waiting for you to start rolling that snowball.

P.S. Need help building consistent habits after you declutter? Check out my post on Why Your Crochet Projects Keep Piling Up (And the James Clear System That Actually Works) - because clearing your stash is just the first step toward sustainable creative practices.

What's the biggest category in your yarn stash? Email me and let me know what you're going to snowball first!

Want more practical systems that actually work for neurodivergent makers? My newsletter delivers weekly strategies, book recommendations, and permission to organize your creative life in ways that make sense for your brain. Subscribe below!